All stakeholders with a registered Voluntary Commitment are welcome to share their progress of its implementation on an ongoing basis. Updates will be featured on this page and in the Ocean Action monthly newsletter.

Share your knowledge

All members of the Community Ocean Action can share their expertise, knowledge, best practices and respond to questions in the Knowledge Forum

Once created, Contact us and let us know so we can link your Voluntary Commitment to your account.

2. I have an account, but I still can't join

Contact us and let us know so we can link your Voluntary Commitment to your account.

Ocean acidification

Ocean acidity has increased by roughly 26% since pre-industrial times because of increased releases of CO2 due to the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities. Ocean acidification is detrimental to many marine species, such as corals and other species with calcium carbonate skeletons or shells, with impacts on their physiology and long-term fitness. These impacts, in combination with increases in upper-ocean temperature, stratification and de-oxygenation of sub-surface waters can affect processes fundamental to the overall structure and functioning of marine ecosystems with far-reaching consequences and potentially profound socio-economic impacts. The potential for marine organisms to adapt to increasing CO2 and the broader implications for ocean ecosystems are not well known and require further research.

Approximately 250 voluntary commitments relate to ocean acidification, either as their main component, or as part of a broader range of management and conservation actions. Specific activities include scientific research and research collaborations, building resilience against impacts of ocean acidification, and activities related to mitigation and carbon sequestration.

This Community of Ocean Action aims to support its members in implementing their ocean acidification-related voluntary commitments by exchanging progress reports, experiences, lessons learned and good practices.